IMPROVED STRUCTURE OF TRAMPOLINE

STRUCTURE AMELIOREE POUR TRAMPOLINE

English Abstract

A trampoline includes a ring-shaped main body, which includes a plurality of legs extending downwards therefrom and a bed unit arranged therein, the bed unit including a mat and a fence, the mat being connected by a plurality of first elastic elements to the main body; and a plurality of support units, each of which includes at least one coupling member, at least one second elastic element, and at least one first support bar, each of the support units being mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the fence having a top coupled the first support bar, whereby when the first support bar is compressed and pushed by an external force, the second elastic element provides a reaction force for position restoration of the first support bar so as to enhance security and safety.

French Abstract

Trampoline comprenant un corps principal de forme annulaire, qui comporte plusieurs jambes se dirigeant vers le bas et un lit disposé à cet endroit, le lit comprenant un matelas et une clôture, le matelas étant connecté par plusieurs premiers éléments élastiques au corps principal. De plus, linvention comporte plusieurs unités de soutien, chacune comprenant au moins un élément de raccord, au moins un deuxième élément élastique et au moins une première barre de soutien. Chacune des unités de soutien est fixée au corps principal de façon à ce que les unités de soutien soient espacées les unes des autres selon une distance prédéterminée. En outre, la clôture comporte une partie supérieure raccordée à la première barre de soutien où, lorsque la première barre de soutien est comprimée et poussée par une force externe, le deuxième élément élastique fournit une force de réaction afin de restaurer la position de la première barre de soutien, de façon à améliorer la sécurité.

Claims

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What is claimed is:
1. A trampoline, comprising:
a ring-shaped main body, which comprises a plurality of legs
extending downwards therefrom, the main body comprising a bed unit
arranged therein, the bed unit comprising a mat and a fence, the mat
being connected by a plurality of first elastic elements to the main
body; and
a plurality of support units, wherein each of the support units
comprises at least one coupling member, at least one second elastic
element, and at least one first support bar, each of the support units
being mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units are
spaced from each other by a distance, the fence having a top coupled to
the first support bar.
2. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
coupling member of each of the plurality of support units is mounted to
and projects outward from one of the legs of the main body, the at least

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one second elastic element having two ends respectively coupled to a
lower end of the at least first support bar and a top of the coupling
member.
3. The trampoline according to claim 2, wherein the at least one
second elastic element comprises a spring and the at least one first
support bar comprises a thread formed on an end thereof for coupling
with the at least one second elastic element through screwing
engagement.
4. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein each of the support
units comprises at least one second support bar and the coupling
member comprises an insertion compartment to receive insertion of the
at least second support bar therein, the at least one second elastic
element having two ends respectively coupled to a lower end of the first
support bar and a top end of the at least second support bar.

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5. The trampoline according to claim 4, wherein the at least one
second elastic element comprises a plurality of elastic steel plates.
6. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein each of the support
units comprises at least one second support bar and at least one third
elastic element, the coupling member comprising an insertion
compartment, the at least one second support bar being inserted in the
insertion compartment, the second elastic element having two ends
respectively coupled to a lower end of the at least one first support bar
and a top end of the second support bar, the at least one third elastic
element having two ends respectively mounted to outside surfaces of
the at least one first support bar and the second support bar.
7. The trampoline according to claim 6, wherein the at least one
second elastic element comprises a spring and the at least one third
elastic element comprises an elastic steel plate.

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8. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
coupling member of each of the plurality of support units is pivotally
coupled to one of the legs of the main body, the at least one second
elastic element having an end attached to a predetermined location of
the coupling member, the second elastic element having an opposite
end attached to the leg of the main body, whereby when the at least one
first support bar is pushed by an external force, the coupling member
follows the action of the force to rotate outwards and the at least one
second elastic element provides a reaction force for position restoration
of the first support bar.

Description

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TITLE: IMPROVED STRUCTURE OF TRAMPOLINE
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a trampoline, and more
particularly to an improved structure of a trampoline featuring
omnidirectional-swing shock-absorption.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional trampoline is generally composed of a circular or
rectangular frame and a plurality of legs extending from a lower
circumference of the frame to be positioned on the ground. A net, serving as
a trampoline bed, is arranged at a center of the trampoline and has an outer
circumference that is connected by a plurality of springs or elastic cables to
an
inner circumference of the frame. When a force is applied to the bed, the bed
displaces downward in a normal direction thereof; when the force is removed,
the springs or elastic cables provides the bed with a restoration force,
causing
the bed to return to the original home position. As such, a user can jump up
and down on the bed to achieve an effect of sports exercise. However, the
conventional trampoline is generally not provided a safety device on the
circumferential edge thereof. If a user is not of skillful, or if an accident
occurs, the user may get hurt. The use of the trampoline is definitely not
safe.

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A protection screen is thus available for use with a training trampoline to
prevent a player from falling off the trampoline. However, the known
protection screen is structured to mount, in a fixedly secured manner, to the
trampoline and this results in a non-elastic mounting of the protection screen
and may easy cause impact injuries or graze injuries of the player. Further,
if
the mounting is not made secure enough, the protection that the screen offers
may be insufficient These are generally shortcomings of the conventional
trampolines.
In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a
solution to overcome or at least alleviate the problems.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above discussed problems, the present invention provides
an improved structure of a trampoline, which comprises: a ring-shaped main
body, which comprises a plurality of legs extending downwards therefrom, the
main body comprising a bed unit arranged therein, the bed unit comprising a
mat and a fence, the mat being connected by a plurality of first elastic
elements to the main body; and a plurality of support units, wherein each of
the support units comprises at least one coupling member, at least one second
elastic element, and at least one first support bar, each of the support units
being mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units are
spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the fence having a top
coupled the first support bar, whereby when the first support bar is
compressed
and pushed by an external force, the second elastic element provides a
reaction
force for position restoration of the first support bar so as to enhance
security
and safety.
The primary object of the improved structure of a trampoline of the
present invention is to provide a fence having a capability of protection
realized with omnidirectional-swing shock absolption in order to prevent a
user from falling off the trampoline and getting hurt and also to overcome the

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drawback of easy damage of the conventional trampoline caused by stress
concentration occurring at jointing portions thereof.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction
to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the
present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become
apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of
the
invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference
numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become
manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed
description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred
structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is
shown by way of illustrative example.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG 1 is a perspective view showing an improved structure of a
trampoline according a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the trampoline of FIG 1.
5 FIG 3 is an exploded view of FIG 2.
FIG 4 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the
trampoline according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an improved structure of a
trampoline according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 6 is an exploded view of FIG 5.
FIG 7 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the
trampoline according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an improved structure of a
trampoline according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 9 is an exploded view of FIG 8.
FIG 10 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the
trampoline according to the third embodiment of the present invention. .
FIG 11 is a view of a portion of an improved structure of a trampoline
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

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FIG 12 is a schematic view illustrating a condition of a use of the
trampoline of FIG 11.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not
intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention
in
any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration
for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various
changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and
arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Firstly, reference is made to FIGS. 1-3, which are respectively a
perspective view of an improved structure of a trampoline 1 according to a
first embodiment of the present invention and an enlarged view and an
exploded view of a portion of the trampoline of the present invention, the
improved structure of the trampoline 1 of the present invention comprises: a
ring-shaped main body 10 and a plurality of support units 20.
The ring-shaped main body 10 comprises a plurality of legs 11 extending
downward therefrom. The main body 10 comprises a bed unit 12 arranged
therein. The bed unit 12 comprises a mat 121 and a fence 122. The mat
121 is connected by a plurality of first elastic elements 13 to the main body
10.
The support units 20 are structured such that each of the support units 20
comprises at least one coupling member 21, at least one second elastic

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element 22, and at least one first support bar 23. The support units 20 are
each mounted to the main body in such a way that the support units 20 are
spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. The fence 122 has a
top coupled to the first support bar 23.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling member of each of the support
units 20 is mounted to the leg 11 of the main body 10 to project outward.
The second elastic element 22 has two ends that are respectively coupled to a
lower end of the first support bar 23 and a top of the coupling member 21.
The second elastic element 22 is a spring, preferably a helical spring.
The first support bar 23 comprises a thread 231 formed on an end thereof for
coupling with the second elastic element 22 through screwing engagement.
Referring to FIG 4, for at least a user jumping or bouncing on the bed
unit 12, when the fence 122 is compressed or pushed, the first support bar 23
swings or oscillates about a fulcrum defined by the second elastic element 22
for shock absorption. After the pushing or compressing force is removed,
the first support bar 23 returns to a home position. With such an arrangement,
security and safety can be enhanced.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an improved structure of a trampoline 1
according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which
the components of the main body 10 and the arrangements thereof are similar

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to the counterparts of the first embodiment so that repeated description will
be
omitted here and also omitted in the subsequent embodiments.
In the instant embodiment, each of the support units 20 further comprises
at least one second support bar 24 and the coupling member 21 is provided
with an insertion compartment 211 to receive insertion of the second support
bar 24 therein. The second elastic element 22 has two ends that are
respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar 23 and a top end
of
the second support bar 24.
The second elastic element 22 is composed of a plurality of elastic steel
plates and as shown in FIG 7, the operation is similar to what shown in the
first embodiment but simply replacing the helical spring with the plurality of
elastic steel plates. When the first support bar 23 is compressed or pushed by
an external force, the second elastic element 22 provides a reaction force
that
helps enhance position restoration of the first support bar 23 to improve
security and safety
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an improved structure of a trampoline 1
according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which
each of the support units 20 further comprises at least one second support bar
24 and at least one third elastic element 25 and the coupling member 21 is
provided with an insertion compartment 211. The second support bar 24 is

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inserted in the insertion compartment 211. Two ends of the second elastic
element 22 are respectively coupled to a lower end of the first support bar 23
and a top end of the second support bar 24. The third elastic element 25 has
two ends that are respectively mounted to outside surfaces of the first
support
5 bar 23 and the second support bar 24.
The second elastic element 22 is a spring and the third elastic element 25
comprises a plurality of elastic steel plates. Referring to FIG 10, the third
elastic element 25 is arranged to face the main body 10 so that when the first
support bar 23 is compressed and pushed by a force, the force is spread over
10 the second elastic element 22 and the third elastic element 25 to
thereby
enhance the capability of shock absorption thereof.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an improved structure of a trampoline 1
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which
the coupling member 21 of each of the support units 20 is pivotally coupled to
the leg 11 of the main body 10. An end of the second elastic element 22 is
attached to a predetermined location of the coupling member 21 and an
opposite end of the second elastic element 22 is attached to the leg 11 of the
main body 10, whereby when the first support bar 23 is compressed and
pushed by an external force, the coupling member 21 follows the action of the

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force to rotate outwards. The second elastic element 22 provides a reaction
force for restoring the first support bar 23 back to the original home
position.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth above, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with the description as a whole.

Representative Drawing